Guardian magazine base plates

[bearcatter]

I have decided that, against most preferences here, I like the flat bottoms on the 32. I just don't have room for my middle and ring finger with the finger rest style. I think I have average size men's hands, size large gloves. Measuring across both fingers together, I get 1 3/4 inches.

Using the finger rest base, I can't get both fingers firmly against the front strap. The effort puts a lot of pressure against the extension, which used to pop the mag out on early Guardians until a new mag catch was designed. At any rate, even with the revised catch, the pressure couldn't be good for the catch or the slots in the mags.

This is the one detail on which I'll give the Guardian 380 the nod. Having a longer grip to begin with, the extended base probably works a little better for most people. I hate to mention them, but I noticed that Seecamp's extended base does not have a hook, it just lengthens the front line of the grip. That may be a better way to extend it?

I just ordered some flat ones so I'll have enough for my four mags to be set up with either type.

[RogueTS1]

Have you tried the Pearce grip extension base plates? They are quite a bit more vertical in shape. My experience is with the .380, but I found the NAA plates would only allow one extra finger and the extension would separate my pinky and ring finger forcing the pinky to rest on the bottom of the plate whereas with the Pearce base plates I can easily get both fingers on the grip above the extension.

[bearcatter]

The Pearce is not flush with the front of the grip, and still has some angle to it. With either extension, when you subtract the thickness of the flat plate, you're only gaining about 3/8 inch anyway. I found that the flat plate allows me to wrap my ring finger around the grip with good contact all the way to the tip. Even though it was only a lengthwise half of the finger, I had a better grip when shooting.